Episode 92: The Kirtland Temple

Very enjoyable discussion guys. Barbara, you were fantastic! I have to ask, though — and maybe this is just me being my typical skeptical self — if you aren’t perhaps being just a teensy weensie bit guilty of romanitically recreating the 1830 kirtland saints in the ecumenical image of the 21st century CoC saints — maybe just a little? I know they invited other preachers in to preach over their pulpits from time to time, but from what I have read about their attitude towards the Cambelites and the nearby Shakers in the union villiage, they were pretty far from the Kumbaya feeling I get that always makes me want to pick up and move over into the CoC anytime Hamer comes on to the podcast. Seriously — I love the messages of peace and inclusion I always hear from you guys. It made me want to light a candle and say a prayer to Bill Murray.

Two more comments/questions, and then I’ll finish (so stop sighing, Tom).

1. Barbara, can you talk about any spiritual experiences that people have had when they have toured the Kirtland temple? My wife and I went through Kirtland probably about 10 years ago when our oldest was very little. We were in one of the upper rooms, and she looked in the back and said, “who is that lady?” but of course ther was no one standing there (that we could see — nudge nudge). I also remember her laughing a lot and saying something about a silly light that was bouncing up and down like tigger in one of the corners on the upper stories. I don’t put as much stock into the story as my wife does, but I still imagine that you would hear a lot of similar stories from people coming through the temple who sort of expect that kind of thing in a place like that. So can you talk about that at all?

2. Also, you didn’t mention Artemis Millet, who was an ancestor of mine (rumor has it he was once thrown out of a window by a big ugly guy named Vincent Knight — not really — Artemis would have kicked his ass). The story that I have heard is that Joseph Smith, upon realizing that none of the current Kirtland saints had the architectural know-how to design a building of that size, was told of a man in Canada named Artemis Millet who could do it. Joseph turned to Brigham and said, “I want you to go to Canada, convert Artemis and his family, tell them to come to Kirtland, and bring $1000 dollars.” Can you confirm how accurate that story is?

3. And finally, John — your opening comments TOTALLY threw down the gauntlet brother. Mysteries of Godliness, man. Sheesh!